Tributes have poured in for a ‘legendary’ retired Exeter teacher who taught hundreds of pupils in the city and has sadly passed away.

Max Matthews, a teacher for more than 40 years at Vincent Thompson Secondary School - now known as St Luke's - died on Christmas Day aged 91, and news of his passing has prompted ex-students and staff to post hundreds of messages on Facebook.

His son Guy, also a teacher, said: “During his long career, he taught hundreds of Exeter school children and their comments on the Vincent Thompson Facebook site demonstrate the huge affection, respect and admiration he commanded.

Max Matthews at the start of his career in the early 1950s (Image: Guy Matthews)

“My father was known for his firm but fair discipline, his encouragement of all students, whether they were talented or not, a wonderful sense of humour and a great penchant for telling stories.

“Above all else, he is remembered for being a true gentleman and a teacher who inspired generations of Exeter students, as well as the many young teachers he mentored who learnt so much from him.

“He will be sadly missed, never forgotten but remembered as the legend he always was.”

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Exeter-born Max joined the Royal Naval Air Service after leaving school then later trained to be a teacher, initially at Price’s School Fareham and then returned to Exeter to take up a post at Vincent Thompson School in Ringswell Avenue in 1953. He became head of PE and a senior teacher until his retirement in 1988.

As well as teaching PE and human biology, an option that was always over-subscribed, Max ran the Vincent Thompson Ten Tors team for years, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Devon schools football teams, numerous foreign activity week trips and the annual Chelsea Football match trip to London.

Max Matthews with his wife Sheila around the time of his retirement (Image: Guy Matthews)

Max was, for many years, a highly respected basketball referee and enjoyed playing golf at Exeter Golf and Country Club where he was a member. After retiring, leaving Vincent Thompson in a helicopter, Max continued to organise Devon schools football, and taught at a local language school and was a regular and much-loved visitor to the new St Luke’s Science and Sports College site.

Max had two children, Guy, 58, and Peter, 53, and two grandchildren, Daniel, 19, and Hannah, 17.

Around eight years ago he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and spent the last six years of his life in a care home in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, near his eldest son.

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Among Max’s former colleagues who have paid tribute to him is Sandra Barrett, a former teacher at Vincent Thompson and St Luke’s.

She said: “Max was an amazing teacher and inspirational to both staff and pupils. He taught with reason and conviction, plus had a sense of humour, but his discipline was fair and immediate. He was a well-respected member of staff.”

Max’s funeral will take place at Exeter Crematorium on Friday, January 25, at 1.30pm.